Filed: May 06, 2010
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 08-5221 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. DEVINO PATERA PUTNEY, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at New Bern. Louise W. Flanagan, Chief District Judge. (4:08-cr-00038-FL-1) Submitted: March 26, 2010 Decided: May 6, 2010 Before MICHAEL, * MOTZ, and AGEE, Circuit Judges. Dismissed in part; affirmed in part by unpublished per curiam op
Summary: UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 08-5221 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. DEVINO PATERA PUTNEY, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at New Bern. Louise W. Flanagan, Chief District Judge. (4:08-cr-00038-FL-1) Submitted: March 26, 2010 Decided: May 6, 2010 Before MICHAEL, * MOTZ, and AGEE, Circuit Judges. Dismissed in part; affirmed in part by unpublished per curiam opi..
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UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 08-5221
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v.
DEVINO PATERA PUTNEY,
Defendant - Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of North Carolina, at New Bern. Louise W. Flanagan,
Chief District Judge. (4:08-cr-00038-FL-1)
Submitted: March 26, 2010 Decided: May 6, 2010
Before MICHAEL, * MOTZ, and AGEE, Circuit Judges.
Dismissed in part; affirmed in part by unpublished per curiam
opinion.
Terry F. Rose, Smithfield, North Carolina, for Appellant. Anne
Margaret Hayes, Assistant United States Attorney, Raleigh, North
Carolina, for Appellee.
*
Judge Michael was a member of the original panel but did
not participate in this decision. This opinion is filed by a
quorum of the panel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 46(d).
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
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PER CURIAM:
Devino Patera Putney pled guilty to conspiracy to
distribute and possess with intent to distribute fifty or more
grams of cocaine base, five or more kilograms of cocaine, and
more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C.
§§ 841(a)(1), 846 (2006). The district court sentenced Putney
to 235 months’ imprisonment.
Putney appeals, challenging the three-level leadership
enhancement imposed under the Sentencing Guidelines. The
Government filed a motion to dismiss, asking this court to
enforce the appellate waiver in Putney’s plea agreement. Putney
filed a response, arguing the waiver is invalid for two reasons:
first, the sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment
under the Eighth Amendment; and second, the waiver was
involuntary and unknowing because Putney did not know what his
Sentencing Guidelines calculation would be at the time of the
plea.
A defendant may, in a valid plea agreement, waive his
appellate rights under 18 U.S.C. § 3742 (2006). United
States v. Wiggins,
905 F.2d 51, 53 (4th Cir. 1990). We review
the validity of an appellate waiver de novo and will enforce the
waiver if it is valid and the issue appealed is within the scope
thereof. United States v. Blick,
408 F.3d 162, 171 (4th Cir.
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2005). An appeal waiver is valid if the defendant knowingly and
intelligently agreed to the waiver.
Id. at 169.
To determine whether the waiver is knowing and
intelligent, the court looks to “the totality of the
circumstances, including the experience and conduct of the
accused, as well as the accused’s educational background and
familiarity with the terms of the plea agreement.” United
States v. General,
278 F.3d 389, 400 (4th Cir. 2002) (internal
quotation marks omitted). Generally, if the district court
fully questions the defendant about the waiver during the Rule
11 colloquy, the waiver is valid and enforceable. United
States v. Johnson,
410 F.3d 137, 151 (4th Cir. 2005).
We believe Putney’s appeal waiver forecloses his claim
that his sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Insofar as Putney now challenges the voluntariness of his plea,
we also find his argument unavailing. The magistrate judge
conducted a thorough plea colloquy, including a discussion of
the appellate waiver. At sentencing, the district court
referred to the waiver, and Putney did not challenge the
voluntariness of his plea. Therefore, we find Putney’s plea was
voluntarily and intelligently made.
For the above reasons, we grant the Government’s
motion and dismiss Putney’s appeal of his sentence. Insofar as
Putney challenges his conviction, we affirm. We dispense with
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oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are
adequately presented in the materials before the court and
argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED IN PART;
AFFIRMED IN PART
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